92 Lava Dome - Cassette removal

[Hotpot]

Hello

I'm after some advice on removing the rear cassette from my Lava Dome / Hope hub.

I'm new to retro bikes and this is my first post. I've recently started using my Dad's old Kona Lava Dome as a commuting bike. I think it's a 1992 and until I got hold of it was completely original right down to the Joe Murry tires.

Unfortunately it seems it's originality is due to having never had any maintenance and with regular use bits keep dropping off it. It's desperately in need of a new chain and I thought I change the cassette at the same time.

Only I can't work out how to get the old one off the axle. The hubs are Hope, probably dating from around the same period (No model name or part number I can see.). Are these going to be a freehub design?

Any advice on how to remove the cassette and what to replace it with greatly received.

Cheers

Chris

 

[Andy B]

Cassette tool, spanner & chain whip are needed to remove a cassette.

 

[Hotpot]

Hi Andy

Thanks for the quick reply. Looking into the end of the cassette I can't see and evidence of a splined collar, etc. as you'd normally see on a shimano cassette. It made me wonder if it's threaded on in some way?

 

[hamster]

Hmm, there are a lot of threaded Hope hubs around. If the smallest cog is 14 tooth, and these is no lockring it sounds like you have a threaded hub and a freewheel not a cassette.

There should be 4 big chunky slots in it to undo it.

The good news is that this is easy, and the freewheel is a cheap thing at around £15.

The bad news is that the freewheels are only on cruddy bikes and don't last so well, and that the current one will have been tightened on by pedalling. It's simplest to get your LBS to fit it. Typically it's £10, but go at a quiet time and buy the freewheel and they may well take pity on you and fit it for nowt.

 

[S8-Tom]

You might need two chainwhips.

Some old cassettes were held on by the final couple of cogs. You'll need to hold the cassette with one whip via the larger cogs then use a second whip to undo the lower cogs.

That's my best guess anyway, I'm too young to remeber these when they were new but a few years in a shop leads me to think that's the answer...

 

[Rev Cannon Dale]

If you can't find a lockring, then look up the sprocket side of the axle.
Does it look like its splined (but recessed)?
If so, pull the spacer (if it has one) off that end of the axle, and try to fit a HG cassette remover in. It should fit. Might not be long enough,in which case get thee to a bike shop and borrow their freewheel remover.

Now mount the tool in a vice, and turn the wheel anti clockwise to undo.
normally go with a bit of a crack, and spin it all the way off.
When refitting, be very careful as you start to thread it back on- its very easy to get cross threaded. No need to rack up in the vice, put it back on the bike, and let chain tension tighten it.

 

[yellow-heapster]

You sure its a cassette? I have Lava Dome of similar vintage owned since new and my recently departed original rear wheel had a freewheel fitted not a cassette. To get mine off you needed the two pronged Suntour type removal tool and a big vice. Mind you the hub wasn't Hope so might your wheel might not be as old as you think.

 

[DoctorRad]

Put up a decent (read: in focus) photo of the rear cogs clearly showing the smallest cog and we'll be able to tell you for definite what tool you need and how to do it. Oh, and take the quick-release skewer out too before you photograph it.

 

[Crayons]

Hm… Sounds like it might be a Suntour cassette (check the spec of the rear mech and shifters if original) – if so you'll need two chain whips as the bottom sprocket threads on to hold the rest of the cassette on. Unscrews counter-clockwise, but be prepared for it to be stuck fast after years of being tightened by riding (I've snapped chain whips trying to take these things off)

Edit: just noticed the reference to Hope hubs That'll be a freewheel then

 

[DoctorRad]

Forgot about these, the late Sheldon Brown to the rescue as ever:

Freewheel or Cassette?
Screw-on Freewheels
Cassettes

If the Hope hub clicks really loudly when you spin the cogs, it's more likely to be a cassette rather than a freewheel.